Del Mar Derby winner Pixelate has California return on agenda

The well-traveled colt Pixelate won his first stakes as a 3-year-old in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in his sixth appearance in such a race this year. He may be sent back to California from trainer Mike Stidham’s base in Maryland later this year for another lucrative prize.

Tuesday, Stidham said he will consider Pixelate for the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf, a $250,000 race on Nov. 28 at Del Mar. The next objective, however, is likely to be the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, a $500,000 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Oct. 3.

Pixelate, a colt by City Zip, will be based in Maryland between races.

Stidham was fast to credit jockey Umberto Rispoli for his aggressive ride on Pixelate in the final quarter-mile of the Del Mar Derby. Pixelate was third entering the stretch and won by a head as the 3-2 favorite over 12-1 Margot’s Boy.

The $203,000 Del Mar Derby ended a five-race losing streak for Pixelate, all second- or third-place finishes in stakes for 3-year-olds on turf, since a win in the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct last December.

“As you’ve seen, he likes to lose,” Stidham said. “I don’t think without Rispoli he would have won. He would have gotten beat. The rider made all the difference.”

Rispoli rode at Del Mar for the first time this summer, having relocated from Hong Kong to Southern California last December. The Del Mar Derby was his first opportunity to ride a horse for Sheikh Mohammed’s world-famous Godolphin Racing. The achievement was not lost on Rispoli, who had tears in his eyes as he walked back to the jockeys’ room.

“I’ve waited 16 years to wear these colors,” Rispoli said, reflecting on the length of his career.

Rispoli finished the Del Mar summer meeting on Monday in second place behind Flavien Prat by one win. The two are friendly and were on the same flight on Tuesday to Kentucky Downs to ride this week. Rispoli was booked to ride Godolphin’s Embossed for Stidham in Thursday’s Dueling Grounds Oaks.

The Hollywood Derby should have a tougher field than the Del Mar Derby. The Hollywood Derby typically draws runners from other circuits, and an occasional international prospect.

Stidham had 20 runners at seven venues throughout the United States and at Woodbine in Canada from Sept. 4 through Monday. Aside from Pixelate, the highlight of the holiday weekend for him was a victory in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga by Mystic Guide.

Other than Del Mar, Saratoga, and Woodbine, Stidham’s 100-horse stable had runners at Churchill Downs, Delaware Park, Laurel, Monmouth Park, and Parx Racing.

“Sometimes I wonder how it all gets covered – papers, silks, owner’s licenses,” he said. “There is so much involved. It’s amazing.”